The Arctic Triple: Lofoten Ultra-Trail 2016

For the first time in history, a 1oo miles trail-running race took place in Norway. In Lofoten. Enter The Arctic Triple: Lofoten Ultra-Trail 2016. And I was part of the photo team that followed the athletes throughout the competition.

This meant 37 hours of hiking, trail-running, driving, on site editing and tons and tons of fun.

The race started in the hamlet of Kirkefjorden on the island of Moskenesøya and ended in Svolvær, the capital city of Lofoten. Besides the 100 miles race there were two other races: a 50 miles one with the start in Borg at Lofotr, the Viking Museum and a 24 km race which started at the Barstrand fishery on the island of Gimsøya.

The first stop for me was above the beach at Kvalvika, an iconic spot of the Lofoten. After a few runners passed me, I literarily started running downhill, towards Fredvang to be able to get some frames with the view towards Yttresand in the background. Then I continued running until I got to my car.

Tough conditions during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016 on the climb from Kvalvika.

The amazing vista of the beach at Kvalvika is totally ignored by the runners of the 100 mile race, during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

A runner in the 100 miles race of the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016 quickly negotiates a flatter part of the trail just before the descent to Fredvang.

Maria Nordfjell descends towards the small village of Fredvang, during the 100 mile race of the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

I quickly drove to the famous arched bridges at Fredvang and got there just in time to get some shots of the runners being cheered at by a couple of cool old ladies. And, guess what, Maria Nordfjell, the winner of the women’s 100 miles race, even got the time to wink at me while she was passing by.

A group of ladies cheer for the runners of the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016, close to the arched bridges at Fredvang.

Maria Nordfjell takes the time to wink at the photographer during the 100 mile race of the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

The next stop for me was the hamlet of Nesland. Snapped a few shots, came back to the car and drove to Kilan.

Gøran Rasmussen Åland (left) and Staffan Bengtsson seem to be in good shape on the historic fishermen’s trail between Nesland and Nusfjord.

Hallvard Schjølberg, winner of the 100 miles race of the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016 has just passed the small hamlet of Nesland.

A young child welcomes two runners in the hamlet of Nesland, during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

At Kilan I hiked a bit on the trail towards Nusfjord. I was planning to shoot the leaders of the race on the highest point of the trail. But they were faster than me and I managed to meet them while in the small forest at the beginning of the path, as I was still going up.

Hallvard Schjølberg, Staffan Bengtsson and Gøran Rasmussen Åland (from right to left) run through the woods between Nusfjord and Kilan during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

Running above Flakstad Pollen, on the trail between Nusfjord and Kilan, during Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

Feeling a bit tired and hungry, I stopped at the check point in Napp to grab a fast meal. Few athletes stopped there to use the contents of one of their special needs bags.

Hallvard Schjølberg gets to the check-point at Napp, during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016. He doesn’t seem tired at all.

At this time, Hallvard Schjølberg was way in front of the other runners. When I left Haukland, he was very close to Unstad and a few minutes after I got to Unstad, there was Hallvard flying by.

Hallvard Schjølberg has a huge advance over the other athletes when he gets to Unstad, after midnight, during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016 race.

In Unstad, I took a good night’s sleep in the back of a rental car. I was too tired to follow the runners and, anyway, the second day I had to be at the Viking Museum in Borg to take photos at the start of the 50 miles race.

Maria Karlsen, Race Director of the Lofoten Ultra Trail, has a short talk with the runners before the start of the 50 miles race.

After crossing the mountains close to Torvdalshalsen, the runners faced probably the longest asphalt section of the whole run. They crossed the bridges linking Vestvagøya to Gimsøya and Gimsøya to Austvagøya and then they turned left towards their last mountains before the finish line.

Joanna Zakrzewski crosses the Sundklakkstraumen Bridge, on her way to Svolvær, during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

Joanna Zakrzewski of Scotland turns right to Svolvær, on E10, during the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.

Maria Nordfjell exits Gimsøystraumen Bridge, on 12 m/s wind, during the 100 miles race of the Lofoten Ultra Trail 2016.